Family Friendly Activities in Cairns

Before I head north to Cape York (see previous email) the family (Cate + 3 kids – 4, 7 and 9) are spending a week in Cairns. We have a couple places booked to the north of Cairns, and a couple of nights at Atherton (because it is nioce there). I am looking at doing some family friendly activities (that might drag a few birds in as well). The three things I would like comment are: Reef trip – I would like to get to Michaelmas, but is that realistic with a family? If so any recommendations for good operators? If not is the birding/reef on Green Island worth the day (we went to Low Isles many years ago and is that a better option now)?I am thinking about Daintree River Cruise – but don’t really want to do the 4AM start to do the birdwatching one. Any recommendations for a trip that gives good wildlife sightings (including crocs and good birds) and is family friendly (in both time and price)?Is the Kuranda Skyrail (and then return by train which I have never done) worth a day trip? We will probably end up in Kuranda at some stage, and the day being a true tourist is tempting. Any reviews either way?Does anyone else have some family friendly suggestions – we will visit some of the parks around Atherton, and might head up to Mossman Gorge as well, but any suggestions appreciated. Thanks, Peter


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4 comments to Family Friendly Activities in Cairns

  • mcachard

    Hi Peter, To add to Ian Sinclair’s nice suggestions… The best birder- and family- friendly reef trip is with Seastar, without doubt. It gets to Michaelmas Cay I think an hour or so before any other boat, and the heads out to Hastings reef as well. Green Island is always worth a trip too, even if just to see the Buff-banded Rails running around your feet. It’s also a great spot for Rose-crowned Fruit-doves too. I reckon the best Daintree River option is with Dave on “Solar Whisper”. He knows his birds, and has a very safe electric boat which is silent and gets closer than most operators would only dream of – he runs trips throughout the day, and a mid to late arvi one would be a great option. I can give u his phone number off list. I’d skip on Mossman Gorge unless you go early in morn (say 7am) and on a weekday. The Kuranda area is good for birds too, especially in the mornings – a quiet stroll along Black Mountain Rd from where the dirt starts would be worthwhile – just ensure u are watchful of traffic, but u will def hear it coming in any case. once u get back to your car after a short walk, drive along a bit further to repeat the process – good chance of a Cassowary, all fruit-doves, Barred Cuckoo-shrikes..etc. Also the Barron Falls raised walk down from the carpark can be great for Pied Monarch, Noisy Pitta, but early mornings are best. It’s also reliable for the paradise-kingfishers but u will be too early, as they usually arrive late Oct at best, but often as late as first or 2nd week of Nov. cheers, martin cachard, trinity beach, cairns…


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  • Peter and Ian, Thanks for the plug Ian. Last night on our extended nocturnal tour we had a three year old and a six year old who distracted from no one’s pleasure nor did they miss out on any but the highest animals as they are too young to use binoculars unless they were already using them regularly. We saw seven species of possum and at lest eighteen individuals:- Gliders: Feather-tail, Sugar and Yellow Bellied Ringtails: Green, Herbert River and Lemuroid Brushtail: Coppery and Common subspecies of the Common Peter it depend on the kids as to whether they would enjoy a nocturnal tour with me but I doubt that I have any availability during your time frame. There are no shorter walks available during October. I have extended nocturnals (with vacancies) going on the 20th of September and the 14th of October but nothing in between and no availability of any kind from September 20 to November 3rd other than that mentioned above. Regards, Alan Alan’s Wildlife Tours 2 Mather Road Yungaburra 4884 Phone 07 4095 3784 Mobile 0408 953 786 http://www.alanswildlifetours.com.au/ —–Original Message—– Sent: Friday, July 31, 2015 7:42 AM Hi Peter A few suggestions and some advice. The playground on the Esplanade is called Muddies and is great. We often took our kids there when they were around the age of your kids. So hopefully your accommodation is within in a short walk to Muddies playground. It will make your trip more enjoyable. That is probably the best bit of advice I can give you! Feeding the kids and yourselves – try Meldrums on Grafton Street. They make great pies and sausage rolls and cakes (coffee is so so). It was a family favourite and our son still loves it. Our teenage daughter is now a vegan so not big on her list. Coffee is another essential – try Cruze Coffee just near Meldrums. Coffee is great and staff are friendly and will make a fuss over the kids. Do go to Michelmas Cay, and take bucket and spade if you can. The snorkelling is great, and they have a glass bottomed boat which is great for kids. It is cramped so maybe the younger one may be a little scared. However once you get going they will be entranced. The kids can play on the beach and paddle in the water which I’m sure they will enjoy. The birds are amazing and I’m sure they will enjoy that too – so close and so many. Kuranda – well I don’t want to start an argument however the attraction of that place always puzzles me. But Skyrail is good. Around Atherton – try going with Alan Gillanders wildlife tour in Yungaburra walking track in Yungaburra along Peterson Creek. Really worthwhile, and there is a swing bridge that the kids will love. Do go to Lake Eacham (but don’t go on the weekend during the day as it gets noisy and crowded- after 4 pm the crowds disappear though). There are some walks, the kids can look at turtles and fish and you can go birding around the car park area. The car park area is the easiest place to see the birds due to the more open area. The walk around Lake Eacham is 3 km and easy, however may be to long for the youngest? There are also musky rat kangaroos on this walking track. Head up to My Hypipamee NP outside Atherton. Easy family walk and good birding. Try Bromfield Swamp in the afternoon to watch the cranes coming in. A great spectacle. I can’t comment on Daintree River Cruises – I’ve done it a while ago and it was enjoyable. I’ll leave that to others to contribute. Feel free to ask more questions and enjoy your trip! Cheers Ian Sinclair —–Original Message—– Peter Ewin Sent: Thursday, 30 July 2015 10:11 PM Before I head north to Cape York (see previous email) the family (Cate + 3 kids – 4, 7 and 9) are spending a week in Cairns. We have a couple places booked to the north of Cairns, and a couple of nights at Atherton (because it is nioce there). I am looking at doing some family friendly activities (that might drag a few birds in as well). The three things I would like comment are: Reef trip – I would like to get to Michaelmas, but is that realistic with a family? If so any recommendations for good operators? If not is the birding/reef on Green Island worth the day (we went to Low Isles many years ago and is that a better option now)?I am thinking about Daintree River Cruise – but don’t really want to do the 4AM start to do the birdwatching one. Any recommendations for a trip that gives good wildlife sightings (including crocs and good birds) and is family friendly (in both time and price)?Is the Kuranda Skyrail (and then return by train which I have never done) worth a day trip? We will probably end up in Kuranda at some stage, and the day being a true tourist is tempting. Any reviews either way?Does anyone else have some family friendly suggestions – we will visit some of the parks around Atherton, and might head up to Mossman Gorge as well, but any suggestions appreciated. Thanks, Peter


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  • iroesinclair

    Hi Peter A few suggestions and some advice. The playground on the Esplanade is called Muddies and is great. We often took our kids there when they were around the age of your kids. So hopefully your accommodation is within in a short walk to Muddies playground. It will make your trip more enjoyable. That is probably the best bit of advice I can give you! Feeding the kids and yourselves – try Meldrums on Grafton Street. They make great pies and sausage rolls and cakes (coffee is so so). It was a family favourite and our son still loves it. Our teenage daughter is now a vegan so not big on her list. Coffee is another essential – try Cruze Coffee just near Meldrums. Coffee is great and staff are friendly and will make a fuss over the kids. Do go to Michelmas Cay, and take bucket and spade if you can. The snorkelling is great, and they have a glass bottomed boat which is great for kids. It is cramped so maybe the younger one may be a little scared. However once you get going they will be entranced. The kids can play on the beach and paddle in the water which I’m sure they will enjoy. The birds are amazing and I’m sure they will enjoy that too – so close and so many. Kuranda – well I don’t want to start an argument however the attraction of that place always puzzles me. But Skyrail is good. Around Atherton – try going with Alan Gillanders wildlife tour in Yungaburra walking track in Yungaburra along Peterson Creek. Really worthwhile, and there is a swing bridge that the kids will love. Do go to Lake Eacham (but don’t go on the weekend during the day as it gets noisy and crowded- after 4 pm the crowds disappear though). There are some walks, the kids can look at turtles and fish and you can go birding around the car park area. The car park area is the easiest place to see the birds due to the more open area. The walk around Lake Eacham is 3 km and easy, however may be to long for the youngest? There are also musky rat kangaroos on this walking track. Head up to My Hypipamee NP outside Atherton. Easy family walk and good birding. Try Bromfield Swamp in the afternoon to watch the cranes coming in. A great spectacle. I can’t comment on Daintree River Cruises – I’ve done it a while ago and it was enjoyable. I’ll leave that to others to contribute. Feel free to ask more questions and enjoy your trip! Cheers Ian Sinclair —–Original Message—– Peter Ewin Sent: Thursday, 30 July 2015 10:11 PM Before I head north to Cape York (see previous email) the family (Cate + 3 kids – 4, 7 and 9) are spending a week in Cairns. We have a couple places booked to the north of Cairns, and a couple of nights at Atherton (because it is nioce there). I am looking at doing some family friendly activities (that might drag a few birds in as well). The three things I would like comment are: Reef trip – I would like to get to Michaelmas, but is that realistic with a family? If so any recommendations for good operators? If not is the birding/reef on Green Island worth the day (we went to Low Isles many years ago and is that a better option now)?I am thinking about Daintree River Cruise – but don’t really want to do the 4AM start to do the birdwatching one. Any recommendations for a trip that gives good wildlife sightings (including crocs and good birds) and is family friendly (in both time and price)?Is the Kuranda Skyrail (and then return by train which I have never done) worth a day trip? We will probably end up in Kuranda at some stage, and the day being a true tourist is tempting. Any reviews either way?Does anyone else have some family friendly suggestions – we will visit some of the parks around Atherton, and might head up to Mossman Gorge as well, but any suggestions appreciated. Thanks, Peter


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  • rgiller

    Hi Peter, Can I suggest doing the Kuranda train up in the morning and the Skyrail down in the afternoon. That way you have the sun behind you as you descend, not in your face so much. The view of the foothills and coastal plain is great. A walk along the area between the railway station and the riverbank produced a Dusky Honeyeater and Spectacled Monarch among others. Enjoy Roger. —–Original Message—– Peter Ewin Sent: Thursday, 30 July 2015 10:11 PM Before I head north to Cape York (see previous email) the family (Cate + 3 kids – 4, 7 and 9) are spending a week in Cairns. We have a couple places booked to the north of Cairns, and a couple of nights at Atherton (because it is nioce there). I am looking at doing some family friendly activities (that might drag a few birds in as well). The three things I would like comment are: Reef trip – I would like to get to Michaelmas, but is that realistic with a family? If so any recommendations for good operators? If not is the birding/reef on Green Island worth the day (we went to Low Isles many years ago and is that a better option now)?I am thinking about Daintree River Cruise – but don’t really want to do the 4AM start to do the birdwatching one. Any recommendations for a trip that gives good wildlife sightings (including crocs and good birds) and is family friendly (in both time and price)?Is the Kuranda Skyrail (and then return by train which I have never done) worth a day trip? We will probably end up in Kuranda at some stage, and the day being a true tourist is tempting. Any reviews either way?Does anyone else have some family friendly suggestions – we will visit some of the parks around Atherton, and might head up to Mossman Gorge as well, but any suggestions appreciated. Thanks, Peter


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